Arson charges laid against youth in Barrhaven house fire that killed three dogs

A youth is facing a string of charges, including arson, after a fire that killed three dogs in Barrhaven. CTV’s Katie Griffin reports.

Ottawa police have laid nearly a dozen charges, including for arson and killing animals, against a youth in connection to a fire at a multi-million dollar home in Barrhaven Tuesday afternoon.

The Ottawa Fire Services says crews responded to multiple 911 calls reporting visible flames in the basement of a single-family home on Muirfield Gardens near Cedarview Road shortly after 3:20 p.m.

Police say all residents escaped from the home, but three dogs died in the fire. One person suffered mild smoke inhalation.

A youth, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was arrested on 11 charges, including:

• Arson - disregard for human life
• Arson - causing property damage
• Possession of incendiary material for arson
• Two counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm
• Three counts of killing/injuring animals
• Three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal

Firefighters say they spent nearly an hour fighting the fire.

“Smoke was banked right down to the floor and zero visibility conditions. It was heavy, heavy black smoke for our firefighters making entry with reports of five people trapped inside,” said Nick DeFazio, public information officer with Ottawa Fire Services.

“They completed two full searches of the structure in zero visibility conditions but did confirm that there were no residents inside.”

The youth, whose age was not provided, appeared in court on Wednesday.

Police say an investigation is ongoing in partnership with Ottawa Fire Services and the Fire Marshal.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa police’s Arson and Explosion Unit.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Katie Griffin

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